Français | Call Us

Facebook  Linkedin

Login

Western Financial Group
  • Insurance open insurance menu
  • Services open services menu
  • Reviews
  • About Us open menu
  • Contact Us

Find a Broker

Get a Quote

Insurance

Personal Insurance

Car

Home

Renter's

Farm

RV

Boat

Travel

Business Insurance

Start-ups to Mid-size Businesses

Employee Benefits

National Enterprises & Associations

Health & Life

Life

Disability

Critical Illness

Services

Registry Services

Claims

MyWestern

Payment Setup

Reviews

About Us

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Who We Are

Executive Team

Western News

Careers

Divisions

Partners

Sponsors

COVID-19 Info

Blog

Western Communities Foundation

Western Coast Insurance

Western Business Insurance

Wyatt Dowling Insurance

Contact Us

Personal Insurance

Car

Home

Renter's

Travel

Farm

RV

Boat

Business Insurance

Start-ups to Mid-size Businesses

Employee Benefits

National Enterprises & Associations

Health & Life

Life

Disability

Critical Illness

View All Products

Services

Registry Services

Claims

MyWestern

Payment Setup

About Us

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Who We Are

Executive Team

Western News

Careers

Divisions

Partners

Sponsors

COVID-19 Info

Blog

Western Communities Foundation

Western Coast Insurance

Western Business Insurance

Wyatt Dowling Insurance

What is trip cancellation insurance?

A large number of people each year make plans to travel. Sometimes plans do not work out, and those people could face the prospect of losing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars because of cancellations. Fortunately, there is a kind of insurance available to travelers to help them in such dire circumstances: trip cancellation insurance. Basic trip cancellation insurance is designed to cover up to 100% of the pre-paid, non-refundable travel costs when the reason for cancellation is covered by the policy.

As with most purchases, the old phrase, caveat emptor, applies here: buyer beware. Know what the policy covers, and what it does not. It is up to purchasers to know what they are buying.

Here are some common situations not covered by basic trip cancellation policies:

  • Cancelling because you cannot afford it
  • Cancelling because of weather changes (not counting hurricanes, or similar)
  • Cancelling because you changed your mind
  • Cancelling for one of a number of health issues
  • Cancelling for one of a number of family issues

The length of the list of situations not covered by can a bit daunting, but you need to understand the policy you are purchasing. It may be costly to assume your reason for cancelling is valid, when it is excluded by the policy.

Some of these policy exclusions may be waived when you purchase different waivers to the basic plan. These are some of the waivers that may be added to a basic policy:

  • Cancellation due to pre-existing medical conditions
  • Cancellation due to the airline/travel company going out of business
  • Cancellation because of employment requirements

There is another way around the limitations of the basic policy: a cancellation for any reason option. This option pretty well explains itself. The purchase of this option will allow you to recover the pre-paid, non-refundable costs of your trip cancelled for any reason. There are some rules applicable to purchasing this option:

  • You may have to insure 100% of your trip
  • You may have to cancel more than 48 hrs before the departure date
  • You will likely have to purchase it between 10 and 30 days before your departure

Trip cancellation is insurance which may be purchased on its own, but it is commonly included as part of a trip insurance package, which can include flight, accommodation, and health insurance.

The cost of insurance generally ranges from 4% to 12% of the total pre-paid, non-refundable trip cost. So, if your payment was $5000, you likely will pay between $200 and $600 for coverage.

There may be other avenues available to help you if you need to cancel all or part of your trip:

  • Your credit card may offer some level of protection if the trip is paid for using that card
  • Having accommodations with flexible cancellation policies
  • Airlines often have rescheduling policies that may be helpful
  • The travellers’ list of rights is a concept that is gaining popularity world-wide, so it may be helpful to you.

Again, one of the best things you can do for yourself is understand what the coverage of any policy contains, and what it does not.

Recent News Posts

5 Tips for Taking Care of Your Electric Car
5 Tips for Taking Care of Your Electric Car

March 16, 2023


What New Home Buyers Need to Know about Insurance
What New Home Buyers Need to Know about Insurance

March 15, 2023


How to Buy a Home for the First Time
How to Buy a Home for the First Time

March 14, 2023


Bundle car and home to save

Home Insurance
Home Insurance
Car Insurance
Car Insurance
Car Insurance
Car Insurance

Car & Truck

Home Insurance
Home Insurance

Home

Business Insurance
Business Insurance

Business

Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance

Travel

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Life

Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance

Renter's

Call Us

Sales
Personal Insurance

1-866-860-1958

Business Insurance

1-866-860-1947

Life Insurance

1-888-594-3105

General Inquiries
and Services

1-866-245-2779
Mon-Fri: 8am-8 pm MT
Sat: 9am-6 pm MT

Claims

1-866-245-2779
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-4 pm MT
Sat: 9am-6 pm MT

1-877-599-7299
(After Hours)

Western Financial

About

Our Story

Executive Team

Careers

MyWestern Login

Mergers and Acquisition

Western Communities Foundation

Western News | Sitemap

Products & Services

All Insurance

Personal Insurance

Business Insurance

Health Insurance

Award Winning Brokerage

IBC Top Brokerage Top 100 Seal 2023  Top 100 Seal 2022

Privacy / Legal  |  Accessibility Guidelines |  Fair Treatment of Customers Policy |  Terms of Use  |  Compensation Disclosure  | Whistle-Blower Policy |  Complaints Process  |  Sitemap


2020 Western Financial Group. All rights reserved.

2023 Western Financial Group. All rights reserved.